MIDLAND, Michigan -- The Lake Erie men's basketball team had their second game in as many days, concluding the G-MAC/GLIAC Crossover with an 88-72 victory over Ferris State. The Storm jumped out to an early double-digit lead, but the Bulldogs rallied to briefly take control, setting up a tight 40-36 Lake Erie advantage at halftime. A back-and-forth second half saw the Storm trailing by three with just over six minutes remaining, but from there they locked in defensively and caught fire offensively, outscoring Ferris State 24-7 down the stretch to secure their first-ever win against this GLIAC opponent in ten tries.
Game Recap
Lake Erie dominated early, racing out to a 14-4 lead as their defense limited the Bulldogs to just four points in the opening seven minutes. That ~10-point margin held until the nine-minute mark, when Ferris State found its rhythm, not only cutting into the deficit but eventually taking its first lead with five minutes remaining in the half. The Storm recovered, entering the locker room ahead 40-36, but the game was still wide open as both teams regrouped.
The Storm extended the lead to eight early in the second half, but within three minutes Ferris State was back on top. Neither team could pull away, and with three minutes remaining, it remained a one-possession game. However, Lake Erie's interior offense took over late, converting multiple opportunities at the rim including two and-ones that helped put the game out of reach in what became an extremely hard-fought victory.
Analysis
Lake Erie's defense was stellar in multiple stretches of the game. They held Ferris State to just four points in the first seven minutes, then just seven points in the final six minutes. They forced nine steals and generated 22 points off 17 forced turnovers—an area where they excelled last season as well.
Offensively, Lake Erie continues to thrive through balance rather than isolation. Six different players attempted at least seven shots, and every player who checked in took at least two field goal attempts. The Storm also rely heavily on their bench, typically using more players than their opponents. That depth keeps starters fresh for crunch time, a major reason they were able to close tonight's game so effectively.
Another key trend continued: Lake Erie's ability to take more shots than its opponent. Tonight they attempted 73 field goals compared to Ferris State's 61. That same approach resulted in 446 more field goal attempts than opponents last season, drastically increasing their margin for error. By winning the rebounding battle and forcing turnovers, Lake Erie is maintaining that identity.
The Storm's three-point shooting cooled off from last night's 41.9% (13/31) performance—13 makes being a total they exceeded just once last season. Despite a 19-10 record last year, Lake Erie finished with the worst three-point percentage in the conference at 30.3%. Today they won while shooting just 9/31 from deep, a great sign that they can still pull out victories even when the perimeter shot isn't falling.
The Matchup
Historically, this series has been one-sided, with Lake Erie entering 0-9 all time against the Bulldogs. Last season, the Storm lost 94-72 in this same G-MAC/GLIAC crossover event, making today's win an especially meaningful turnaround.
Looking Ahead
The Storm return home for their opener on Wednesday, November 19, when they host D'Youville. The Saints are 0-2 so far, with losses to Goldey-Beacom College and Wilmington University (Del.). Last season, Lake Erie traveled to Buffalo and earned a 12-point win in the matchup.
After D'Youville, Lake Erie heads back on the road for three straight contests: Clarion (Sat, Nov. 22), Mansfield (Sat, Nov. 29), and then either Gannon or Virginia State (Sun, Nov. 30). The Storm then return home to open conference play against Walsh on Thursday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m.
